Garment Measurement and Reporting System

ABSTRACT

A garment inspection system uses a digital measuring tape measure to measure and check dimensions of produced garments. The measured dimensions are transmitted to a computer via a wireless radio frequency connection between the digital tape measure and the computer. A software program is installed in the computer in a stand-alone or networked environment to read, store, analyze and manage the data and inspection results.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the measurement of garments and otheritems. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively,relates to a garment inspection system using an electronic measuringtape to measure and check dimensions of garments during and aftermanufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,574; 4,658,134; 5,027,526; 5,060,394; 5,426,863;5,433,014; and 5,691,923 each disclose digital tape measures havingmarkings or perforations along the length of the measuring tapeitself—designed to be read by a sensor that is fixed inside the tapemeasure casing as the tape is extended or retracted. A problem withthese tape measures is that after some time in use, the markings orperforations suffer from wear and tear as the tape is repeatedlysubjected to the measuring environment outside of the tape measurecasing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,014 mentioned above, as well as U.S. Pat. No.6,658,755 disclose digital tape measures having specific features andwireless transmission systems for transmitting data to a remote device.Neither of these however provides a multi-user networked softwareprogram to allow storage, analysis and management of inspection resultsthat might be recorded during the measurement of garments during orafter manufacture.

SUMMARY

An improved electronic tape measure and garment measurement inspectionand reporting system is provided.

There is disclosed herein a tape measure including:

-   -   a casing;    -   a spool mounted rotatably within the casing and having rotor        thereon which rotates together with the spool;    -   a tape wound upon the spool and extendable from the casing to        take linear measurements and whereupon extension thereof the        spool and rotor rotate;    -   a stator located in the casing and cooperating with said rotor        to sense angular orientation of the spool; and    -   conversion means converting said sensed angular orientation of        the spool into a linear measurement corresponding to the linear        extent to which the tape is extended.

Preferably, the rotor comprises an array of apertures on the spool, andsaid stator comprises an optical sensor detecting light from a lightsource passing through the apertures.

Preferably, said apertures are spaced evenly about the spool and saidconversion means comprises an electronically implemented algorithmincluding a variable associated with the wound diameter of the tape uponthe spool.

Preferably, the tape measure further comprises a display upon the casingfor displaying said linear measurement.

Preferably, the tape measure further comprises a transmitter fortransmitting data associated with said angular orientation of the spooland/or said linear measurement to a remote device.

Preferably, the tape measure further comprises a key upon the casingwhich when depressed effects transmission of current measurement data.

There is further disclosed herein a garment measurement and reportingsystem, including:

-   -   a tape measure for measuring linear dimensions of a garment, the        tape measure including a transmitter for transmitting data        associated with said linear dimensions; and    -   a computer receiving data transmitted from the transmitter, the        system running software which produces reports based on said        data.

Preferably, the tape measure as used in the system is that as describedabove.

Definitions

As used herein the term “rotor” encompasses anything that can rotatetogether with the spool to convey the angular orientation of the spool.A “rotor” could comprise optical, magnetic, electrical or other physicalmeans. The term encompasses but it not limited to markings, apertures,slots, reflectors, magnetic particles and also includes the possibilityof the shaft and wiper of a variable resistor or plate(s) of a variablecapacitor for example.

As used herein the term “stator” encompasses anything that is fixed withrespect to the casing to cooperate with the rotor to read its angular orrotational position. A “stator” can include an optical sender and/orreceiver, a magnetic pick-up, electrical or other physical means. Theterm encompasses but it not limited to and also includes the track(s) ofa variable resistor or plate(s) of a variable capacitor for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by wayof example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective illustration of a digital tapemeasure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a computer and wireless receiverwith which the digital tape measure communicates;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional elevation of the digital tapemeasure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial illustration of an optical sensorassociated with a tape spool of the digital tape measure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram depicting the communication betweenthe digital tape measure and the PC;

FIG. 6 is an example of a measurement report as generated by software onthe PC;

FIG. 7 is a measurement audit run-chart of data from the tape measure asgenerated from the tape measure data by software on the PC; and

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic block diagrams illustrating the overallmeasurement system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings there is depictedschematically a digital tape measure 1 which has a plastic casing 2. Asteel tape 3 is mounted on a spring-loaded rotating spool 31. The steeltape 3 has ordinary dimension marking printed on its top surface. Thesecan be metric and/or imperial. A locking and unlocking mechanism 51 isprovided. A printed circuit board (PCB) assembly 21 is provided. Aliquid crystal display (LCD) unit 6 is provided. A battery compartment7, key switches 8, 9, 10 are provided. A universal serial bus (USB) datareceiver 11 is provided. A laptop or desktop computer 12 is provided.

Small slots 33 are cut evenly alongside the rim of one of the circularwalls 32 of the tape spool 31. This is located next to the PCB 21. Aphoto sensor comprises a receiver 22 a located at one side of the wall32 and a light source 22 b located at the other side of the wall 32(hereinafter collectively referred to as “photo sensor 22”). Photosensor 22 is mounted on the PCB 21. When the tape 3 is extended from thecasing, the tape spool 31 will rotate and the slots 33 on near the rimof the wall 32 will pass through the photo sensor 22 in one direction.The movement of the slots 33 will be detected by the photo sensor 22. Toaccount for the diminishing diameter of the measuring tape that remainswound upon the spool as the tape is extended, the CPU will apply analgorithm to convert the numerical data signals detected by the opticalsensor 22 into linear dimensions which are then displayed on the LCDunit 6.

The spring loaded locking mechanism 51 will automatically lock the tape3 when the pulling action of the tape stops.

When the release button 5 is pressed, the tape 3 will be retracted bythe spring loaded tape spool 31. The slots 33 on the wall of the spoolwill pass the photo sensors 22 again in an opposite direction. Thetravelling direction and distance will be detected by the photo sensor22. The signal is again converted into data and calculated by the CPUand displayed on the LCD 6.

The key switch 8 will toggle the measured displayed dimensions betweenmetric and imperial.

When the tape 3 is fully retracted, the displayed dimension on the LCD 6should be zero. In case if there is any residual value remain on the LCD6, by pressing key switch 9, any displayed value on the LCD 6 will beset to zero.

The system includes a garment inspection data recording, analysing andreporting software system to be installed on the laptop or desktop PC.

When a garment dimension is measured and displayed on the LCD 6,pressing the key switch 10 will cause the dimension to be transmittedvia a radio frequency transmitter on the PCB 21, to the USB receiver 11connected to a laptop or desktop computer 12. Typically the radiofrequency would be in the range 2.4-2.4835 GHz under the SDTP protocol(Short Distance Digital Transceiving Protocol), or SFP protocol (StaticFrequency Pair) for example.

A software program is installed on the laptop or desktop computer 12.The program can run on Windows or other operating systems. The programcan be used in a stand-alone or networked environment. The program cansupport different languages, including but not limited to English andChinese.

The user can create a user name and login to the program with a uniquepassword. The users can be categorized into different groups to accessdifferent levels of information from the program to perform differentfunctions. There can be pre-set inspection templates and control chartsand examples of these are depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The user can retrieve pre-set inspection templates from the program.Authorized users can create and add new templates in the program.Authorized users can input, change, and edit data on the templates. Theprogram can detect, receive and read numerical data from a digitalmeasuring device through a wired or wireless interface. The user, byusing the digital measuring device, can take and store measured data inthe program. There will be a visually displayed signal on the computermonitor to prompt the position on the template where the data will bereceived. There will be an audio signal to confirm that data has beenreceived and stored. Data will be received and stored in a pre-definedsequence, and the user can override and change such sequence if needed,by using the computer keyboard or pointing device.

The received data can be analyzed. For example it could be compared to apre-defined standard and tolerance level set. There will be visuallydisplayed signal if received data is outside a tolerance level. Data canbe plotted on pre-defined control charts (e.g. Run Charts). Completedinspection records can be stored, sorted and retrieved (e.g. by date, byinspector ID, by customer ID etc.). Received data can be deleted beforerecords are confirmed and saved. Users can choose to input the data onthe template using the computer keyboard, instead of via a transmissionfrom the digital measuring device, if needed. Authorized users canretrieve, view, organize, delete, copy and print stored records.

As will be appreciated, a single point non-contact detection andmeasurement system is provided. No coding marks or punched holes need beprovided on the tape. Wireless data transmission allows maximumconvenience and high efficiency. A multi-user networked software programallows storage and also enables analysis and management of inspectionresults.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious tothose skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope ofthe present invention. For example, rather than providing indicia on thespool 31 in the form of slots 33, and rather than providing opticalsensor components 22 a and 22 b at both sides of the spool wall 32 asexemplified, printed reflective and/or non-reflective markings could beprovided at a single side of the wall and both optical components couldthen be positioned at that same side. Furthermore, rather than opticalmeans, physical means in the form of bumps and/or depressions could beprovided to cooperate with a physical switch for example. Similarly,magnetic means could be provided to achieve the same end.

1. A tape measure including: a casing; a spool mounted rotatably withinthe casing and having rotor thereon which rotates together with thespool; a tape wound upon the spool and extendable from the casing totake linear measurements and whereupon extension thereof the spool androtor rotate; a stator located in the casing and cooperating with saidrotor to sense angular orientation of the spool; and conversion meansconverting said sensed angular orientation of the spool into a linearmeasurement corresponding to the linear extent to which the tape isextended.
 2. The tape measure of claim 1, further comprising a displayupon the casing for displaying said linear measurement.
 3. The tapemeasure of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmittingdata associated with said angular orientation of the spool and/or saidlinear measurement to a remote device.
 4. The tape measure of claim 3,further comprising a key upon the casing which when depressed effectstransmission of current measurement data.
 5. The tape measure of claim1, wherein said rotor comprises an array of apertures on the spool, andwherein said stator comprise an optical sensor detecting light from alight source passing through the apertures.
 6. The tape measure of claim5, wherein said apertures are spaced evenly about the spool and saidconversion means comprises an electronically implemented algorithmincluding a variable associated with the wound diameter of the tape uponthe spool.
 7. A garment measurement and reporting system, including: atape measure for measuring linear dimensions of a garment, the tapemeasure including a transmitter for transmitting data associated withsaid linear dimensions; and a computer receiving data transmitted fromthe transmitter, the system running software which produces reportsbased on said data.
 8. The garment measurement and reporting system ofclaim 7, wherein the tape measure comprises: a spool mounted rotatablywithin the casing and having rotor thereon which rotates together withthe spool; a tape wound upon the spool and extendable from the casing totake linear measurements and whereupon extension thereof the spool androtor rotate; a stator located in the casing and cooperating with saidrotor to sense angular orientation of the spool; and conversion meansconverting said sensed angular orientation of the spool into a linearmeasurement corresponding to the linear extent to which the tape isextended.
 9. The garment measurement and reporting system of claim 8,wherein the tape measure further comprises a display upon the casing fordisplaying said linear measurement.
 10. The garment measurement andreporting system of claim 8, wherein the tape measure further comprisesa transmitter for transmitting data associated with said angularorientation of the spool and/or said linear measurement to a remotedevice.
 11. The garment measurement and reporting system of claim 10,wherein the tape measure further comprises a key upon the casing whichwhen depressed effects transmission of current measurement data.
 12. Thegarment measurement and reporting system of claim 8, wherein the tapemeasure comprises an array of apertures on the spool, and wherein saidstator comprise an optical sensor detecting light from a light sourcepassing through the apertures.
 13. The garment measurement and reportingsystem of claim 12, wherein the tape measure comprises an electronicallyimplemented algorithm including a variable associated with the wounddiameter of the tape upon the spool.